Implement minimum wages for garment workers by Sept 30, says Iqbal

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FE Report
Labour and employment adviser Anowarul Iqbal said Sunday apparel factories must implement the minimum wages for the workers by September 30 next.
He was addressing labourers of different garment factories held at the conference room of labour and employment ministry.
"I will not listen to any excuse from the BGMEA and BKMEA if they fail to fully implement the minimum wages for the garment workers," he added.
Earlier in 2006, the government, Bangladesh Garment Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and labour leaders fixed minimum wages at Tk 1660 a month for the entry level of a worker.
However, according to BGMEA estimate, around 95 per cent garment units have so far implemented minimum wages at their factories.
Adviser Anwarul Iqbal warned the campaigners who, he said, are destroying image of Bangladesh's garment industry aboard abusing the rights of the labours.
Some local union leaders are making baseless allegation about the Bangladesh's garment industry aboard and doing harm to the country by destroying its image, Iqbal observed.
Some of the local campaigners have dual citizenships, he added.
"We will request the home ministry to think about cancellation of citizenships of those campaigners who have betrayed the country's interest," said Iqbal.
Sources at the Chief Inspectorate of Factories told the FE that labour inspectors visited 855 factories in the period between June 3 and August 31 and found that 97 factories paid legal minimum wages and 119 others did not pay fringe benefits.
Iqbal directed his office to sue factory owners that are not registered with the BGMEA or BKMEA and responsible for violation of labour rights.
Recently, an American NGO filed a petition to the US trade representative for public hearing on allegation of abuse of labour rights in different garment factories in Bangladesh.
The NGO also asked the trade representative to withdraw Genrelised System of Preference (GSP) facilities being offered by the US government to Bangladesh for its abuse of workers' rights and non-implement of different compliance issues.
The workers at the meeting said they have been treated fine in their factories, but there are many factories operating elsewhere deprived of the minimum wages and other benefits under the wages board.
Secretary of the labour ministry Syed Ashfaque Hamid and Chief Inspector of Factories Serajuddin Ahmed were present at the meeting.